THE life of an outstanding community member was commemorated with a service at Whittlesford Parish Church last Friday. More than 200 mourners paid their respects to Michael Arnold who died at the earlier this month at Addenbroke s Hospital, Cambridge, age

THE life of an outstanding community member was commemorated with a service at Whittlesford Parish Church last Friday.

More than 200 mourners paid their respects to Michael Arnold who died at the earlier this month at Addenbroke's Hospital, Cambridge, aged 80.

Golf lover Mr Arnold served the village for over 20 years as a parish council chairman, local historian and Whittlesford Society president and chairman.

Whittlesford Society spokesman, Meg Holland, said: "Michael was a respected contributor to many of the society's publications and will be greatly missed. He will live on. Not just in the warm memories of those whose life he touched, but in the tangible legacy of the many local features he researched and wrote for village publications over the years.

"He was a terrific man. Our sincere condolences go his family."

Outside of the village he will be remembered for work on designing and developing the extension to the Gog Magog golf course in Cambridge - and even further afield for distinguished scientific research and services to agriculture in Africa, for which he was awarded the OBE.

A family man, Mr Arnold was born on March 19 1928, and became know around the village after attending the village primary school and being an enthusiastic member of the local scout and church choir groups.

After living in Africa he returned to Whittlesford after the death of his father in 1983 and rebuilt the family home in Shelford Road. He is survived by his wife Kitty, children and grandchildren.